Laundry Week!!

I'm in a Fall-Cleaning-Laundry mood -- and last week I got an email from Marsha in Gettysburg asking about the advice I gave last year about buying a new washing machine.  This is a conversation I have ALL THE TIME...so today is a re-run.  Tomorrow will be an update....

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Recently, a friend posted this on Facebook, "I :am in the market for a new washing machine. Front loader or top loader?"  She was shocked by the number of comments she got...and the conversation went on for a week.

It was VERY CLEAR that women hate, hate, hate their front loading washing machines!!  WOW...

It is no secret that I LOVE MY WASHING MACHINE...it's a 20 year old Maytag...

If you're in the market for a new washing machine any time soon -- here are a few things you should know.  First of all -- just ten years ago -- for less than $300, you could buy a great top loading washing machine that did a terrific job of cleaning your clothes. Even Consumer Reports, at that time, said, "with the proper soap and amount of water, any of the washing machines we reviewed would get your clothes clean."

THEN, the government started to issue regulations about "energy efficient" appliances.  Which, in the case of washing machines, meant use less water.  So, by 2011 -- a simple, efficient, top loading, agitator washing machine became an endangered species...

In the blink of an eye, all washing machines in the big box stores were FRONT LOADERS. Which USE LESS WATER.  Because of their complicated gasket, they also cost about twice as much to purchase...and never mind that the "energy savings" is actually $23 a year versus $43.   

DO YOU WONDER WHY all your clothes smell musty?? THEY DO NOT USE ENOUGH WATER...

My friend Sue paid over $1000 for a new washing machine...and several weeks later, her husband said, "honey, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but all our towels smell like ass..."

So -- if you DO NOT WANT TO BUY A FRONT LOADING WASHING MACHINE -- what can you do??

Good question -- tomorrow -- the answer!!
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MMWI:  228.4

Washing Pillows

It's official -- IT'S FALL.  My favorite season of the year for so many reasons.  I love sweater weather, and the leaves turning.  I love changing up my bedding...it's time for the FALL BED

My Fall bed is built like this:  I start with my thick, 100% cotton mattress pad.  Then, some line-dried white 100% cotton sheets.  The Fall bed gets a flannel sheet ..then, the final touch is an off-white Matelassé Coverlet.

Yes, you can WASH YOUR PILLOWS. And you should. And mine are waaaay overdue.
I feel some laundry posts coming on...

John has been having night-sweats -- and his two pillows are yellow.  Ugh.  I haven't washed them since spring.  I considered throwing them away, because even after laundering, they were still yellow.  
But getting new pillows is such a major commitment, isn't it?  After a YouTube search, I found this video...and it seems to deal with the specific problem...

I loved this woman's video.  I'm going to try her formula for GETTING OUT THE YELLOW.

My Favorite Job

I am SO LUCKY. For one thing, I get to work with Rhonda Pierce, the Marketing Director for Schmetz Sewing Machine Needles. Part of that job is writing for the monthly internet magazine, Inspired To Sew.  I am so proud of what we do every month with the magazine...

In Beaver Dam last spring with Rhonda.

Rhonda's recent Facebook Post:

Yes, I LOVE my job! Knowing sewing stars is inspirational and energizing. You, too, will love knowing Rob Appell, Man Sewing with Rob Appell in Rita Farro's interview. Rob's robust personality and eagerness to share sewing techniques and projects is authentic, infectious and entertaining. What a combo! Enjoy! https://issuu.com/schmetzneedles/docs/its44-aug17…

2017 TMBC goes to MSQC

THIS is the first post...which will be a series of MANY...about our bus trip to Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, Missouri.

First of all -- wherever you live, there is a Trailways bus company near you -- putting together interesting programs.  CHECK THEM OUT.  They do all the driving, make all the arrangements, purchase blocks of tickets to popular, sold-out events.  I'm telling you -- THIS IS A FUN WAY TO TRAVEL, SEE NEW THINGS and MEET NEW PEOPLE.

I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS TRIP...

The extra bonus is that you can go ALONE -- and you will meet other like-minded individuals.

Hamilton, Missouri is about a six hour drive from Davenport, Iowa. That's a lot of gas, miles on your car, and STAYING AWAKE....

Which, obviously, I did not have to do...

We had to be at the departure point at 4:45 AM. YIKES. Looking back, one of the mistakes I made was deciding NOT to go to bed the night before the trip. I'm often up until 2:00 AM anyway, and I was just too excited to sleep...so, by the time we got on the bus, I was MORE THAN READY to sleep. Which I can do. Lucky me...

I slept THE WHOLE WAY DOWN...and I'd like to thank Sandy for taking this very attractive picture of me doing it...

That's our Burlington Trailways bus -- parked on the side of the Quilt Retreat Center in Hamilton, Missouri.

Hamilton, Missouri has some FABULOUS MURALS in town...(that's another post)

Every detail in this town is beautifully done.  Like, for example, these stairs....WHAT A HOOT!!

One of my favorite pictures of us. And you'll have to stay tuned to learn how we got to this moment..??

GIRLFRIEND TRAVEL! Sewing Sisters! Missouri Star! I am a lucky, lucky girl...

Farro Family Birthday Cake

In 1971, the first year we were married, John made me a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting for my birthday. And I've made it for HIM -- and for our boys -- for every birthday since...

I recently found this picture from THAT birthday!! Holy Cow -- that hair cut takes me back...

(Jane Fonda in Klute...) it was a GREAT haircut...

But -- I digress...

Anyway -- I PROMISED to share my secret to an ALWAYS incredibly moist cake...and this is strange, but it has NEVER FAILED ME...

I bake the cake mix in a rectangle cake pan. While it's cooking, I put

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup);
1 cup of sugar, and
1/2 cup of evaporated milk (or regular milk)

into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Add 1 tsp. of vanilla at the end.

When the cake is done -- I take it out of the oven, and poke it all over (I use my turkey forks to make a lot of holes at one time)...then I pour the hot boiled mix over the hot cake. It will look wrong. Completely wet. Like the cake will NEVER soak up all the liquid...

But -- not to worry. It will.

Honestly -- I never thought I invented this trick -- but I can't find it on the internet. I've been doing this for YEARS...it works every time.

Your cake will be FANTASTIC...and it will stay moist for days. (I'm just guessing -- because cake doesn't last at my house beyond the second day...)


But it is the frosting that makes it SPECIAL. Here it is:

Cook 1 cup of milk with 6 TBL of flour until it's very thick. It will be a big glob....At this point, I put it in a shallow dish, cover it with plastic and stick it in the freezer to COOL COMPLETELY.

With electric mixer -- beat until smooth:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. chunky peanut butter
1 cup of sugar

Scrape the cool flour glob into the butter/sugar bowl and continue to beat. (it will be grainy at first).

Add 1/2 tsp. vanilla at the last minute.

PERFECTION. THIS FROSTING IS SO GOOD -- you could eat it on a saltine cracker. (and you will!)

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Time with Uncle Ross

When Ross moved back to Iowa to attend nursing school, the big bonus was the time he spent with Lilly and Warren. For 15 years -- he lived in Pennsylvania or Minnesota -- and we only saw him twice a year.

Of course, he very quickly became their favorite person...

He had lots of regular things he did with them. Wrestling, of course, and watching Tom and Jerry cartoons, playing games on the porch. He took them to Monkey Joe's (indoor inflatables)...and many, many trips to playgrounds around town.

During the summers, he often took them to the park so they could play after dark. THEY LOVED THAT...

I am the only one who realizes what a gift these years have been. For all of them.  Lilly and Warren will always feel a certain way about their Uncle Ross -- and  that would never have happened if they only saw him twice a year.

Ross is an RN now, he got a job at the hospital, and he bought a house.  He moved in July...

and the kids keep asking, "Where's Uncle Ross?"

And, oh, yes, I can't forget THIS signature dish!!  I must post the secret recipe for the Farro Family Birthday Cake. 

Home Dec

The thing about "Home Dec" is that, if you're doing it right -- it is always changing...

I loved to re-arrange it....and it felt like my personl art gallery.

When Ross and Elliott were growing up, we had a United States map hanging in the hallway. AND they had a U.S. Map shower curtain (that's how they learned the capitals).

Then, for many years, I hung my beloved collection of Cross-stitch Samplers on the Hallway wall.

My Mother Taught Me How to Sew, and At the time I did not know; that with every stitch I now complete, with every row I do so neat; My Mother's heart is there with me...Guiding my Hand for all to see.

My Mom actually stitched this one. That's how the collection started, of course...

But, now that Lilly and Warren are in school -- it was time to BRING BACK THE MAP!!

Mary Mulari sent this map.  What a wonderful, useful gift!  Lilly helped me frame it.

I think the new map is hanging on the same hook we used for the original map (over 30 years ago).

The new wall is a work in progress...

For now, I've packed away my Sampler collection and the hallway wall has become a children's art gallery. The kids often look at the map -- if we're going on vacation to Pennsylvania, or when John sent the Christmas train off to Portland to be repaired.

Last weekend, I was taking a bus trip to Hamilton, Missouri...and the kids wanted to know where that was on the map.  (Middle of Nowhere didn't make any sense to them!)

Yep.  Maps are good.  Thanks, Mary!!

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MMWI:  233.4  I'm thinking about this one...and will try to write about it tomorrow.  Don't cry for me, Argentina...(great...now I'm gonna have to Google Eva Peron....or Madonna...)